News Archive
1st Camelsdale Cook-up
At their meeting this week Camelsdale Cubs spent the evening trying out their cooking skills, and at the end of it their Leader Mark Russell said, "35 Cubs, 1 1/2 hours, 35 2 course meals, Chef's Badges awarded all round.
Master Chefs don't know the meaning of stress!"
Beaver Scouts go to Legoland
As part of the 25th Anniversary of Beaver Scouting, thousands of Beaver Scouts (6-8 year olds) from the South East Region descended on, and almost took over Legoland at Windsor, on both Saturday & Sunday 8/9th October. Haslemere Beaver Scouts were very much in evidence,and one of the largest groups was from 1st Fernhurst with a total of 73 Beavers, siblings, parents, and Leaders. They had two extra celebrations too as one of their young Leaders Catriona was 16 on the day, and one of the Beaver Scouts was 8.
Cub Scout Muir Trophy
9 teams of Cub Scouts (8-10 1/2 years) took part in the Haslemere and District "Muir Trophy" competition on Sunday 9th October. This trophy was first competed for in 1926, and this years, organised by Andrew Grenside of 1st Hindhead proved to be very challenging and exhausting, particularly for some of the Leaders who accompanied the teams around the Beacon Hill, Golden Valley, and Devil's Punchbowl. Given just Grid references the teams had to find 6 bases and carry out various tasks including firelighting, finding a hidden Scout complete with blackened face, string trail, pioneering, and sending a message by walkie talkie using only the phoenetic alphabet. Points were scored at each base including 10 points for actually finding the base. Each team had to carry 2 eggs and each one reaching the finish whole scored another 10 points. Each team also had two envelopes containing maps in case they got lost. If these were unopened at the finish that was another 20 points. They also had to collect 3 leaves - maple, chestnut, oak, gaining another 10 points for each. One of the bases was at "The Temple of the four winds" - quite a hike, and the total distance covered from start to finish was 7 miles, quite a challenge for these youngsters.
1st Haslemere Group Camp
The first weekend in October proved to be a superb "Indian Summer" for the 1st Haslemere Group, who spent it under canvas at "Garner's Field", the Farnham District’s site, at Tilford. There were 24 Cub Scouts and 12 Scouts on site, and for the very first time 8 Beaver Scouts, who until recently had only been allowed to take part in sleepovers in indoor accommodation. Rules have changed and they are now permitted to camp. Must have been very exciting for them.
Activities included cooking, firelighting, orienteering, blind trail, rocket launcher, assault course, and firing catapaults at tin cans. Apart from the regular Leaders there were a number of parents taking part, having a whale of a time, and much appreciating the great opportunities they were giving to these young "Scouts".
Christchurch Quake
On Tuesday, September 13th 2011, the collection from our St George’s Day Service finally reached Scouting in Christchurch. I had the great pleasure to hand over $NZ 500.00 to Mike Blackburn on behalf of us all.
I was taken on a personal tour of the parts of the central city which are still accessible and although there has been a great deal of clearing-up, the amount of damage is still difficult to grasp.
Here is the message I received from Mike:
It was very nice to meet with you and your wife the other day. I am pleased that you have had the opportunity to visit Christchurch and see for yourself the extent of the damage.
Please pass on our sincere thanks for your Districts very kind donation. A number of our city Groups are still unable to use their halls and this money will go to support those Groups.
I look forward to the opportunity to keep in touch.
Yours in Scouting,
Mike Blackburn M.B.A
Upper South Island Regional Development Manager
SCOUTS New Zealand
